ISLAMABAD: Government and Taliban arbitration committees formed by government and Taliban for holding peace dialogues held first meeting at Khayber Pakhtoonkhawa House and discussed the ways and means for moving forward in dialogue process.

According to joint statement read out by Taliban Arbitration Committee Chief Maulana Samiul Haq, dialogues would focus on unrest areas instead of whole country. Both committees agreed that no act against peace, sovereignty and security of country should be carried out. The dialogues would be held under the constitution of country.

The dialogues would focus on the unrest areas instead of whole country. The Taliban arbitration committee has demanded of the government committee to conduct their meeting with president, prime minister, army chief and DG ISI. The process of dialogues should be completed within a short time. The government committee has showed desire for holding meeting with Taliban leadership. The Taliban committee has sought the mandate of the government committee. Arbitration committee has demanded of the government to not declare Taliban as banned organization. Both committees have demanded ceasefire from government and Taliban. The Taliban arbitration committee sought the mandate of the government committee for the implementation of the decisions of the both committees.

Government committee demanded of the Taliban committee whether it would have to meet arbitration committee or it would have to meet with nine-member Taliban political shura. Both committees condemned the recent terrorist incidents in the country. The demands of the government committee would be conveyed to the Taliban political shura and arbitration committee would convey the demands of Taliban to government committee. Both committees agreed to hold meeting after receiving the reply of the Taliban political shura. The dialogues were held in cordial atmosphere and both committees hoped that the dialogues would be successful. Both committees have asked the whole nation to pray for the success of the dialogues.

The negotiating teams of the government and Taliban also agreed that anti-peace and security activities should be stopped forthwith.

The two sides said the dialogue would be applicable to troubled areas alone and not the entire country. The meeting wanted clarity in the mandate of Taliban Committee and Taliban Overseeing Committee.

The Taliban Committee also sought clarification about mandate of the Government Committee. Later, talking to newsmen Maulana Samiul Haq said the two sides agreed that the process of dialogue should not prolong as the nation is awaiting for some good news.

The Taliban Committee also undertook to convey demands and points of the Government to Taliban leadership and revert back with their point of view.

Maulana Samiul Haq said they have also agreed that there should be no action or activities that could damage the peace negotiations.
They also condemned recent incidents of violence and resolved that these would not be allowed to derail the peace process.

Maulana Samiul Haq said their Committee also expressed the desire to have meetings with the President, the Prime Minister, Army Chief and DG ISI.

The four member Government team included Irfan Siddiqui, Rustam Shah Mohmand, Rahimullah Yousafzai and retired major Muhammad Aamer. The three member Taliban team consisted of Maulana Samiul Haq, Maulana Abdul Aziz and Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Khan.

The government committee has accepted the invitation of meeting with Taliban leaders. The negotiations between the two committees were continued for over three hours.

The two sides gathered at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad for a preliminary meeting likely to chart a “roadmap” for future discussions, amid deep scepticism over whether dialogue can yield a lasting peace deal.

Irfan Siddiqui said that the government wants result-oriented dialogues. He said that the government was serious to hold dialogue process.

Meanwhile Samiul Haq said that arbitration committee hails the resolve of the government for holding dialogues. Samiul Haq said they will reply in positive manner.

Earlier‚ Coordinator of government committee Irfan Siddiqui while chairing the meeting of his committee said that we have received a positive response from the Taliban committee. We want to enter into dialogue process with open heart and mind. He hoped for a positive outcome of dialogue process in accordance with the aspirations of the nation.

Meanwhile‚ in a statement‚ Irfan Siddiqui has refuted a news column attributed to him in social media.

He said the fake column is an act to malign and defame his reputation.
Irfan Siddiqui said he has offered his services in greater national interest to bring peace to the country. Irfan Siddiqui said in the first meeting bilateral issues and basic agenda would come under discussion.

Meanwhile speaking to a private TV channel chief cleric of the Lal masjid and member of the three-member committee of TTP negotiators, Maulana Abdul Aziz said the two groups of negotiators would discuss preliminary parameters for peace talks.

Maulana Abdul Aziz said the Taliban wanted to have a meeting with their nominated committee. He said they were deliberating to visit Waziristan or call Taliban near Peshawar for meeting.

He further said they could ask Taliban to provide their demands in written, however, the final decision in this regard would be made after meeting with government committee.